The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-08-20
Letters From Our Mother
Country. No 5.


Custom of Making these Pies
Wales and "PTncs in Waies"--
River Mersey- Eoodsido Forty
Boats -Mersey Tunnel.
Christmas in England must always
he celebrated with mince pies, which
pies are not only historical in their
origin, but delicious in their taste
Mince pies were popular under the
nane Of mutton pies as early as the
year 1896. Later authorities all agree
in substituting meats tongue III the
place OF mutton, the remaining ingre-
Gients being much the same us those
recommended in modern recipes The
common ingredients are meat, apples,
suet, ralsinS, currants, and candied
pecl-a rather strange miXture-to
which is added brandy or old beer by
those who like it. 1t Is then mixed,
put into jars and tightly corked for
several weeks, the cooks say the long
er the better. In Herrick's time it
was customary to set a watch upon the
pies on the night before Christmas lest
sweet toothed thieves should lay fci-
oniuus fingers on them; the jovial vi
car sings.
Come guard the Christmas pie,
That the tlef, though uc'rr SO sly.
With his ae~h-hooEs don't come nisn
To catch it.
From him, " 10 all alone sits there
Having his eye Still in his ear
And deal otnishtly fear
To catch it,"
We are told by Scldcn that mince
pies were baked in a cotiin-shapel
crust intended TO represent the cratch
or manger in which the Holy child
was laid This is however exceeding
ly doubtful, for old English cookery
books before Selden's time, always
styled the crust of pie 'thc c2fia."
Unless these mince pies are in a
home, Christmas is indeed blank. |
we'll remember how my mother used
to set me- at work st)ning raisins for
mince meat, and the Submits Of my
digits" would instinctivelv find their
way to my mouth, and the stoned rais-
ins were doomed, and so was my fate
for stoning raisins, being sent from the
house in disgrace. My troubles were
however speedily overcome when |
met some Of my boyish acquaintance
and cimaxed the whole by a good
w-balling.
The Saturday after Christmas Day
| journeyed to Liverpool en- route for
Glasgow and stayed over Sunday in
that busy seaport city, calling at Ru-
abon on the way.
The latter place is the point for tax
ing a trip up the beautiful vale of
LIangolIcn but we will defer that for
a little time.
The mansion and park of Sir Wat
kin v. Wynn is at Ruabon He is
verify the prince in Wales" The
grounds cover thousands Of acres. \
beautiful avenue a mile in length on Il
gradual slope and lined with trees on
both sides leads to the mansion. In
front of the mansion is a beautiful ar
tifcial lake. The estate Is Il very rich
one and | understand the yearly in
come to Sir Watlin averages 100000.
l crossed the River Mersey from
Birkcnhead to Liverpool which river
answers the same purpose as the North
River for New York, jersey CITY and
/ lloboken, but | was surprised at the
marked difference in the mode Of
transit The Woodside ferry boats, as
they are called, are very comfortable,
but are not near SO spacious and ma
jestic as the New York ferry boat.
/ There are no harbors for the boats to
run into and consequently they have
to run alongside the landing Stage,
moving backwards and forwards to get
into the right position for landing pas
sengers, causing a good deal of delay
and annoyance. This is however to
| be accounted for from the fact that
there is very strong current III the
river which makes it so difficult to
land. \ tunnel has now been bored,
and | had the pleasure Of taking the
train under the river. Hydraulic lifts
are used for conveying passengers to
and from the surface, and what once
took fifteen minutes to cross the river
by steamer is now accomplished in
three minutes by the train.
ANGLO SAXON.
TIE August number of Harper's
Magazine Is peculiarly timely and at
tractive, with its abundance of vigor-
Gus articles upon the leading subjects
Of the day.
The place Of honor is ftly occupied